Capcom went through an era of attempting to milk their Resident Evil style titles that resulted in several attempts at creating new ip from a similar mould. One of these attempts would take the form of...
Onimusha
Mainline Entry 01 - Onimusha: Warlords
Formats: Playstation 2, Xbox, PC
Following the mould of Resi with more focus on sword play and less on horror, this new series dropped the player in the Sengoku period of japans history using elements of real history alongside supernatural spins. Out to save a princess from demon's you run against pre-rendered backgrounds solving minor puzzles and taking down demonic hordes. Originally intended for N64DD then developed for PS1, the game would take until PS2 to make it onto shelves later receiving a tweaked port in the form of Genma Onimusha and a limited release port on PC which only came to light in select markets. An immediate success, Capcom was quick to try and make a franchise of it.

Mainline Entry 02 - Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Formats: Playstation 2
Arriving quickly on the heels of the previous game, the sequel followed a new lead in the form of Jubei and expanded on the idea of having sections where the player took control of other characters for brief sections, the actions of these characters deciding who would help Jubei in the end. Co-developed alongside the original game, Capcoms quick one-two delivery worked and despite only being released on one platform the game was just as much of a hit.

Spin Off Entry 01 - Onimusha Tactics
Formats: Game Boy Advance
ATactics rpg entry was released on Nintendo's handheld using a grid based view to progress through the games battles. The game was very much a spin-off, mostly modelled on the narrative structure of the first game but not typing in directly the any of the running canon.

Spin Off Entry 02 - Onimusha: Blade Warriors
Formats: Playstation 2
If you're known for fighters what else do you do but create one for characters who fight. The decision was ill-advised though, pitting series characters against one another this title delivered a simple fighter who's narrative followed on closely from the second game but in a way that many fans weren't that interested in.

Mainline Entry 03 - Onimusha 3: Demon Seige
Formats: Playstation 2, PC
Two years passed since the second entry and Capcom came in loud with this trilogy closer. The new game introduced time travel elements with the present day sequences being set in Paris and led by Jean Reno's Jacques. The third game was mostly notable for the improvements made to the combat and the switch from prerendered backdrops to real-time ones but otherwise delivered a well received supposed send off to the series that was intended to win back some western gamers who'd begun to drift off with the second game. Once again the game was well received though it came in with just 75% of the total sales the previous two entries achieved.

Mainline Entry 04 - Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Formats: Playstation 2
Another two years later Capcom returned to the series despite its supposed end with this fourth entry set a few decades after the third. Capcom built the game citing heavy fan demand and the new title utilised things Capcom had learnt during its time making failed title Shadow of Rome. Once again the game arrived to a positive critical response but this time the audience had no interest and sales fell dramatically for the new entry bringing the series to an end barring an announcement for a browser based title years ago.

What are your memories and thoughts of the Onimusha series?
Onimusha
Mainline Entry 01 - Onimusha: Warlords
Formats: Playstation 2, Xbox, PC
Following the mould of Resi with more focus on sword play and less on horror, this new series dropped the player in the Sengoku period of japans history using elements of real history alongside supernatural spins. Out to save a princess from demon's you run against pre-rendered backgrounds solving minor puzzles and taking down demonic hordes. Originally intended for N64DD then developed for PS1, the game would take until PS2 to make it onto shelves later receiving a tweaked port in the form of Genma Onimusha and a limited release port on PC which only came to light in select markets. An immediate success, Capcom was quick to try and make a franchise of it.
Mainline Entry 02 - Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Formats: Playstation 2
Arriving quickly on the heels of the previous game, the sequel followed a new lead in the form of Jubei and expanded on the idea of having sections where the player took control of other characters for brief sections, the actions of these characters deciding who would help Jubei in the end. Co-developed alongside the original game, Capcoms quick one-two delivery worked and despite only being released on one platform the game was just as much of a hit.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Onimusha Tactics
Formats: Game Boy Advance
ATactics rpg entry was released on Nintendo's handheld using a grid based view to progress through the games battles. The game was very much a spin-off, mostly modelled on the narrative structure of the first game but not typing in directly the any of the running canon.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Onimusha: Blade Warriors
Formats: Playstation 2
If you're known for fighters what else do you do but create one for characters who fight. The decision was ill-advised though, pitting series characters against one another this title delivered a simple fighter who's narrative followed on closely from the second game but in a way that many fans weren't that interested in.
Mainline Entry 03 - Onimusha 3: Demon Seige
Formats: Playstation 2, PC
Two years passed since the second entry and Capcom came in loud with this trilogy closer. The new game introduced time travel elements with the present day sequences being set in Paris and led by Jean Reno's Jacques. The third game was mostly notable for the improvements made to the combat and the switch from prerendered backdrops to real-time ones but otherwise delivered a well received supposed send off to the series that was intended to win back some western gamers who'd begun to drift off with the second game. Once again the game was well received though it came in with just 75% of the total sales the previous two entries achieved.
Mainline Entry 04 - Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Formats: Playstation 2
Another two years later Capcom returned to the series despite its supposed end with this fourth entry set a few decades after the third. Capcom built the game citing heavy fan demand and the new title utilised things Capcom had learnt during its time making failed title Shadow of Rome. Once again the game arrived to a positive critical response but this time the audience had no interest and sales fell dramatically for the new entry bringing the series to an end barring an announcement for a browser based title years ago.
What are your memories and thoughts of the Onimusha series?
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